Page 46 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“Thank you.” She looked down, her fingers drifting over the skirt. “I’ve never owned something so beautiful. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You being here tonight and supporting the opening is thanks enough.” He reached out, took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I know we haven’t been talking business lately, but I appreciate you coming. I imagine it’s not easy.”

She cocked her head to the side. “A few weeks ago you would have been right. But the more I’ve gotten to know you and understand the reason behind why you do what you do, the more I’ve come to respect what you’ve accomplished here.”

Never had someone’s words meant so much to him.

“Thank you, Anika. Would you care to dance?” He smiled wolfishly. “Because I recall we never got to finish our last dance.”

Anika rolled her eyes. “After everything we’ve been through, you still bring that up.”

“I do have a reputation to live up to.”

He led her to the dance floor. Two-story windows lined the wall and gave incredible views of the lake. With the faintest bit of color still splashing the night sky beyond the ridges of the Alps and the church on Bled Island standing proudly against the growing darkness, it truly was an enchanted setting. One brought to life by the woman in his arms.

This time as they danced, their bodies close together, the music winding around them, there was the sensual awareness of her body, of her breasts pressed against his chest, of her waist and how fragile it felt beneath his hands. But there was also knowledge there, knowledge of the woman and not just her body but her mind and her heart, resulting in the most intimate dance that he had ever shared with a woman.

Satisfaction spread through him. His latest hotel had opened to rave reviews. The event itself was a massive success. And he was dancing with a woman that he truly cared about. The woman who was carrying his child.

As they passed by a pillar, he saw his father speaking with an older couple. His pleasure dimmed. What had his father been about to say before they were interrupted by Anika’s arrival? Were his parents still truly happy? Or was there something else going on beneath the surface, something that he had missed? The last two weeks, even as he had struggled to open himself up, he had reminded himself that his parents had walked through hell and come out on the other side. Scarred, yes, but alive and moving forward.

But what if they hadn’t? What if they were simply putting on a show? If they couldn’t overcome the grief of losing David, would he ever be capable of overcoming it himself? Capable of finally letting down his own barriers and allowing himself to be the kind of father their baby deserved? Of being the kind of man Anika deserved?

Anika’s hand tightened on his arm. He looked down at her and returned her smile with one of his own. There were plenty of questions to be answered, yes. But not tonight. Tonight was about celebration, about joy, about looking to the future.

A future that, if he could just let himself feel, might include the woman in his arms.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EXHAUSTED,ANIKALAIDher head back against the chair in her office. Reservations had continued to climb, enough that she had been able to hire a handyman part-time. He was making improvements on the interior and had replaced some of the rotting boards on the front porch. If the weather forecast held and next week got as warm as they were expecting, the porch railing and trim might be restored to its ivory glory by the weekend.

Slowly but surely, she was reclaiming the inn bit by bit. Larger projects like replacing all the beds were still a ways away. But if she continued to make enough changes to bring customers back and kept up with marketing, the inn would survive.

It was an accomplishment, yes. But as her relationship with Nicholas grew, deepened, she was beginning to contemplate more and more the possibility of selling. Of starting a new chapter in her life.

Or, as she’d started to think of it recently, their life.

Don’t jump in too fast.

Yes, the last few weeks had been wonderful. But it was just a beginning. There was still so much that had to be discussed and decided upon.

She’d stayed with Nicholas the night of the grand opening and woken up to an empty bed. Not surprising given all there was to do with the opening. She’d experienced a momentary flick of fear, along with a heavy dose of guilt. Had it been like this for him when he’d come back into his room in Kauai and found her gone?

But Nicholas had banished her fears by returning with a breakfast tray and sharing pancakes with her in bed before he’d planted a searing kiss on her lips as he’d headed out to a meeting.

The rest of the day had rushed by, ending on a somber note when Nicholas had received an urgent phone call about an emergency with his new property in Greece. He’d left quickly and she’d returned to the inn, not quite comfortable with staying in his suite without him there.

She walked out into the lobby. The thick burgundy-and-cream rug she’d found online stood out against the dark wood floors. Replacing some of the older lamps and having the handyman bring down some chairs she’d found in the attic had already altered the atmosphere from worn to cozy. Blankets made by a local artisan were stacked on one of the built-in shelves by the fireplace, inviting guests to relax by the hearth.

Regardless of whether she decided to sell or not, she was very proud of the work she’d managed to do in a short amount of time. If she sold to the Hotel Lassard, an idea she was entertaining more and more, she could bring the baby back for visits. She imagined picnics on the dock, walking through the fields of snowdrops in the spring and watching her son or daughter run chubby little fingers over the white petals, and was filled with a joy she had never experienced.

She glanced out the windows behind the desk that overlooked the lake. The island stood proudly in the middle, the church spire white against a pale gray sky. Snow clung to tree branches. The lake was still, smooth as mirror glass.

A peaceful tableau. One that reflected the growing peace she felt about the future. Things were certainly going in a different direction than she’d ever thought possible. But she was finding happiness in these unexpected turns, joy in moments she’d never envisioned. The more Nicholas did for her and the baby, the more she relaxed. When he did things like send her a basket with teas from a local shop she’d told him about in passing, it made her want a future with him in it. Not just a sideline participant who occasionally popped into her child’s life to bestow the occasional gift before departing again for his bachelor life, but a man involved in the raising of his child.

A man who might want a life with her, too.

She moved to the fireplace, tossed in another log and sank down into a chair. Was she being foolish, picturing a future with Nicholas and their baby? They hadn’t talked at all about the changes happening between them. But surely he wouldn’t have said what he did at the opening if he didn’t feel at least something for her.

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